Hyde Park school principal resigns following backlash over suspicious person incident
Police say 54-year-old Daniel Prospero, of Hyde Park, was wearing camouflage and a bullet-resistant vest and was carrying a hunting-style knife and high-capacity rifle magazines, one containing ammunition.
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The principal of Haviland Middle School has resigned amid ongoing criticism over how school officials handled an incident involving a suspicious person near campus.
Parents were notified of the resignation in a letter sent by the district.
The resignation follows a Sept. 8 incident in which school employees spotted a suspicious man near Haviland Middle School and Ralph R. Smith Elementary School in Hyde Park.
Police say 54-year-old Daniel Prospero, of Hyde Park, was wearing camouflage and a bullet-resistant vest and was carrying a hunting-style knife and high-capacity rifle magazines, one containing ammunition.
Prospero was initially taken into custody under New York's Mental Hygiene Law and transported to a hospital for evaluation.
After his release from the hospital this week, police charged him with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal trespass.
Authorities have emphasized that no firearm was ever seen during the incident and none was recovered during the investigation.
Many parents, however, criticized the district's response, telling News 12 they were not notified until late that night and arguing more should have been done to protect students.
Prospero is currently under electronic monitoring.
SCHOOL SCARE
The principal of Haviland Middle School has resigned following criticism over the school's handling of a suspicious person incident.
